Patna: Taking a serious view of Ganga pollution in Bihar, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) to impose environmental compensation on urban local bodies responsible for discharging millions of litres of untreated sewage into the river.The tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a media report published on Aug 3, which cited an affidavit filed by the state environment department stating that pollution levels in major rivers, including the Ganga, Son, Kosi and Bagmati, had reached alarming levels and that Ganga water in Bihar was not fit even for bathing.A bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Aafroz Ahmad issued the directions after examining the affidavit submitted by the state govt.The affidavit stated that several drains between Buxar and Munger continue to discharge untreated sewage into the Ganga. Citing data placed before it, the tribunal noted that seven drains in Buxar discharge 50 MLD (million litres per day) of wastewater into the river, while five drains in Bhojpur discharge 47 MLD. In Patna, 15 drains release around 349 MLD of untreated sewage, while two drains in Barauni discharge 23 MLD and another 25 MLD flows into the river from Munger.The tribunal also noted that three drains in Dumraon (Buxar) and six in Barahiya (Lakhisarai) have not yet been connected to the sewerage network. It directed the state govt to explain the measures taken to stop untreated sewage from entering these drains.According to the affidavit, Bihar currently has 43 sewage treatment plants (STPs). Of these, 15 are operational, five are under trial run and nine are under construction. The tendering process for four more plants is underway, while DPRs for 10 additional STPs are being prepared.NGT has sought detailed information on the treatment capacity and construction progress of all STPs and directed BSPCB to verify whether treated water discharged from the plants meets prescribed environmental standards.The tribunal also asked the state govt to submit a timeline for completion of sewerage networks, details of the agencies executing the work, availability of funds and measures being taken in areas where drains cannot be linked to the sewerage system.Observing that the issue involves river pollution across 27 districts of Bihar, NGT said the matter would be reviewed again after the state files its compliance report.
